IHK Survey Reveals Mülheim an der Ruhr Business Location Rating Drops to 3.1

The Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Essen (IHK) held a business discussion on June 22, 2026, in Mülheim an der Ruhr, highlighting key economic factors shaping the region’s business climate. According to a recent IHK survey, companies rated Mülheim’s business location with a school grade of 3.1, a decline from the 2.9 score recorded two years ago. This drop signals growing concerns among local enterprises.

High municipal costs, especially property and trade tax rates, emerged as major drawbacks, burdening businesses and impacting the area’s competitiveness. Friederike Groß-Böcker, IHK business field manager, emphasized that these expenses diminish the overall quality of the location for companies. Additionally, participants expressed dissatisfaction with the prolonged planning and approval processes, identifying bureaucratic hurdles as obstacles to a favorable business environment.

Despite these challenges, the survey revealed positive feedback on leisure and recreational offerings (rating 2.7) and the region’s transport connections to road and highway networks (rating 2.4), which are viewed as strengths. When assessing factors crucial for business location decisions, respondents prioritized efficient infrastructure (72%), manageable municipal cost levels (69%), and availability of skilled workers (57%).

Groß-Böcker summarized businesses’ desires for more affordable and accessible economic conditions, tax relief, and infrastructural improvements. She also stressed the importance of education and training initiatives to counter the shortage of skilled labor, underscoring this as a key element for maintaining Mülheim’s attractiveness to companies.